Aphasia

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Aphasia

Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. Individuals who experience damage to the right side of the brain may have additional difficulties beyond speech and language issues. Aphasia is always due to injury to the brain-most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. But brain injuries resulting in aphasia may also arise from head trauma, from brain tumors, or from infections.

Symptoms

Aphasia is most often caused by stroke. However, any disease or damage to the parts of the brain that control language can cause aphasia. These include brain tumors, traumatic brain injury, and progressive neurological disorders.According to the National Aphasia Association, about 25% to 40% of people who survive a stroke get aphasia.But it can also come on gradually from a slow-growing brain tumor or a disease that causes progressive, permanent damage.

Incidence and Prevalence

Prevalence rate for aphasia is approximately 1 in 240 persons or on an average of 0.37% people in Canada. Extrapolated prevalence, 119,514. Population Estimated Used, 32,507,874. Fifteen percent of individuals under the age of 65 experience aphasia; this percentage increases to 43% for individuals 85 years of age and older No significant differences have been found in the incidence of aphasia in men and women. However, some data suggest differences may exist by type and severity of aphasia.